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Award Notification:  Michelle Ryan (MA '15)

Michelle Ryan Named MA Milken Educator

Michelle Ryan, head of the social studies department at Randolph High School, is the kind of teacher who can turn a struggling student into a star performer. She’s dedicated to addressing education equity within the district and beyond and has implemented several strategies to give every student—regardless of race, gender and abilities—the same access to an outstanding education.

As part of her ongoing work with at-risk students, Ryan played a leading role in implementing a $35,000 Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation Grant, which supported 50 students who sought an alternative route through high school. The grant helped the school create its first online courses, increase access to remedial instruction and more.

Ryan is adored by Randolph students and her elective classes are frequently at maximum capacity. The student body has named her “most entertaining teacher” and “most inspiring teacher” for the past four years.

Ryan believes strongly in supporting education and educators. "As a society...by investing in education and in educators, we're really investing in the child," she told the Milken Educator Award team after her surprise notification.